Topical Bible: Ships: Sometimes Made of Bulrushes

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In the ancient world, ships and boats were essential for transportation, trade, and fishing. The Bible provides various references to ships, highlighting their importance in biblical narratives and daily life. Among the materials used for constructing these vessels, bulrushes, or papyrus reeds, are notably mentioned in Scripture.

Biblical Reference:

The most prominent biblical reference to a vessel made of bulrushes is found in the account of Moses. In Exodus 2:3 , it is recorded: "But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and set it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile." Here, Moses' mother, Jochebed, uses a basket made of papyrus reeds to save her son from Pharaoh's decree to kill all Hebrew male infants. The use of bulrushes, coated with tar and pitch, ensured the basket's buoyancy and waterproofing, allowing it to float safely on the Nile River.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient Egypt, where the account of Moses takes place, papyrus was a common material due to its abundance along the Nile. Papyrus reeds were used not only for making paper but also for constructing lightweight and buoyant vessels. These boats were suitable for navigating the calm waters of the Nile and its marshy areas. The use of bulrushes for such purposes reflects the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the people in utilizing available natural resources.

Symbolic Significance:

The use of a bulrush basket in the account of Moses carries symbolic weight. It represents God's providence and protection over Moses, who would later become the deliverer of the Israelites. The fragile yet resilient nature of the papyrus basket parallels the vulnerability and eventual triumph of the Hebrew people under God's guidance.

Other References and Uses:

While the specific mention of bulrushes in shipbuilding is rare in the Bible, the broader context of ships and boats is significant. Ships are often depicted as instruments of commerce and exploration, as seen in the accounts of Solomon's fleet (1 Kings 9:26-28) and the voyages of the Apostle Paul (Acts 27). These narratives underscore the importance of maritime activities in biblical times.

In summary, the mention of ships made of bulrushes in the Bible, though limited, provides insight into the practical and symbolic uses of natural resources in ancient times. The account of Moses' bulrush basket remains a powerful testament to divine protection and the unfolding of God's plan for His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 18:2
That sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes on the waters, saying, Go, you swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning till now; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Babylonia and Assyria
... The ships sailed down to the Tigris and across the gulf ... Sometimes as many as four
or six of them sat on a ... Improvements were made in it from time to time; thus ...
/.../early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter vi babylonia and assyria.htm

Songs in the Night
... posts on the shore, to which the ships were usually ... be established, that peace shall
be made lasting, and ... I like to hear servants sometimes humming a tune at ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/songs in the night.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... At this period Egyptian ships were ploughing the Red Sea ... or in the ruins of their
houses, are sometimes of a ... Their pottery was made by hand, and was not painted ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm